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Residents urge clearer referendum descriptions and a St. Helena Island community center during Beaufort County public comment
Summary
During public comment at the Oct. 28 Beaufort County Council meeting, residents criticized vague descriptions for a county tax referendum and repeatedly urged the council to prioritize a community center and more youth amenities on St. Helena Island and elsewhere in the county.
Several Beaufort County residents used the council's citizen comment period Oct. 28 to press elected officials for greater transparency on a county tax referendum and to urge investment in youth and community facilities.
Eddie Rogers, the first speaker called, said he had lost trust in the council's ability to plan for referendum projects and criticized the referendum notices as “vague and general.” He argued state law requires projects be defined specifically and published multiple times prior to a referendum and urged the county to publish detailed project descriptions and cost estimates. “Get some estimates so you can realistically price the projects and show us some real integrity and transparency,” Rogers said.
Multiple speakers pressed councilors to deliver more recreational and youth opportunities, particularly on St. Helena Island. Carrie Major urged the council to build a “state-of-the-art community center, youth and community center on St. Helena Island” and asked for continued engagement with county staff to ensure facilities meet community needs. Another resident said the county lacks affordable recreational options for children, citing the loss of movie theaters, bowling alleys and weekend youth sports participation over time.
Cynthia Holmes, speaking on behalf of youth in the county, echoed calls for accessible facilities and programming, saying “we need things for our young people” and that not all families can afford private activities. The speakers framed their requests as urgent needs tied to youth safety and community opportunity.
Council members acknowledged the comments; the meeting record shows no formal action taken during the meeting to change the referendum notices or to approve a community center. Speakers asked the council to provide more specificity before any referendum vote and urged ongoing engagement between staff and community representatives.
The council moved on to committee reports after the public comment period.
